It’s hard to remember a year that could potentially be more pivotal for international climate change talks than 2015. Years of international negotiations trying to repair the perceived collapse of 2009’s climate talks in Copenhagen will culminate this December in Paris for the UNFCCC’s 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21). The significance? It’s hoped that COP21 will secure a legally binding climate agreement to limit carbon emissions on a global scale beyond 2020. The opportunity is great but the challenges are significant from all angles, whether they be economic, social or political.

Companies are increasingly discovering that environmental and energy-related supply chain risks are both significant and material to their short and long term operational prosperity. With such issues now an everyday topic of conversation, the need to ensure environmental supplier compliance is becoming a central part of business strategy.

A recent piece of research by Ernst & Young indicated that only half of British businesses ask their suppliers about their anti-bribery and corruption (AB&C) policies.

With the increase in legislation, public ethical expectation, and the spotlight on supply chains, it is now time for companies to take a more proactive approach and ensure that supplier AB&C performance is not an issue.